Chapter 82: Contraband (14)

"Your Highness!"

"I want to see Your Highness!"

As the three of them passed through the central plaza of the monastery, Herbert heard Blake's shout—or rather, his anguished cry…

At this moment, Blake was being pinned to the ground by two Penitent Nuns who were even burlier than he was. He wanted to struggle, but worried about angering the others, so he could only let them hold him down, lifting his head to shout loudly.

Herbert instinctively turned his head to glance, then immediately looked away, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, pretending he hadn't seen a thing.

"Blake? Hmm… don't know him, don't know him."

What is that shameful thing on the ground.

I definitely don't know him anyway.

"Your Highness Herbert—"

However, just as Herbert wanted to ignore it, Blake's sharp eyes spotted him, and his cries grew even more pitiful.

His whole body trembling with agitation, he looked as if he had just been pinned to the ground and lined up for a thorough humiliation—especially paired with his current posture, it really did give one quite a lot to imagine.

Since the other party had already called out his name, Herbert could no longer pretend nothing was happening. He furrowed his brow slightly and looked back at the Inquisitor.

"Your Excellency the Inquisitor, may I go handle this?"

"…Go ahead."

Having received the Bishop of Thorns' permission, Herbert walked straight up to Blake. Ignoring the man's fervent gaze, he addressed the two nuns directly:

"Sisters, may I ask what happened? What has my retainer done?"

"Brother Herbert… he's your retainer?"

One of the nuns rose, her brow tightly furrowed as she looked at Herbert and said in a low voice, "Do you know what he did?"

"Please enlighten me."

"They actually brought a profane object into the monastery!"

Hmm?

A profane object?

Contraband?

Upon hearing that word, a word popped into Herbert's mind uncontrollably.

…A dirty book?

But looking at how angry these two nuns were, the thing they brought in was probably quite out of line—not as simple as a book.

Then could it be a fake—

But that doesn't make sense either. Aren't the guards all men?

Oh, men can use them too.

"Is this true?"

Herbert blinked, glanced at Blake with considerable surprise. He hadn't expected that thick-browed, big-eyed fellow to also be a man of such… vigorous intestinal passion.

Blake, seeing Herbert's strange look, had no idea where his thoughts had gone. He shook his head vigorously and said repeatedly:

"No, no! We really didn't! We don't know anything! We don't know how that thing got into our packs!"

At this, Herbert nodded gently.

Mhm, mhm, you go on, I'm listening.

I understand.

Every patient who comes to our department says it was an accident—slipped while bathing, eating, sleeping and sat down on it… we all understand.

We believe you!

We've all received professional training; we won't laugh unless we can't hold it in.

Just as Herbert was thinking proctology jokes, the second nun spoke up, angrily saying, "They concealed a talisman of the Northern Witch, wanting to use it to spy on the monastery!"

Hmm?

That's really not it!

Then the fun and absurdity of this matter drops sharply.

But… the Northern Witch?

Herbert furrowed his brow, stared into Blake's eyes, and asked slowly, "Do you know about this?"

"Of course not!"

Blake answered without hesitation, "Your Highness, please believe me, I really don't know! I can swear by the gods! That thing was definitely not on the cargo manifest!"

"I see…"

Herbert stared at him for a while, then said to the Penitent Nuns, "I don't sense the scent of falsehood from him. What about you two?"

"…Neither do we." The Penitent Nuns hesitated, but still answered truthfully, "But even so, we can't let him off easily."

"I understand. I don't expect you to make an exception and show leniency."

Herbert smiled, not pleading for them, and instead said, "Rather, I hope that for the sake of the Albert family, you will interrogate them with the highest standards."

"If you feel it's necessary, there's no problem with sending them all to the Tribunal. I can make a promise here—the Albert family will not raise any protest over this matter."

His eyes full of sincerity, he bowed respectfully to the two and said earnestly, "Please uphold the law impartially and safeguard the honor of the Albert family."

Blake:?

He had thought His Highness Herbert came to plead for him, but he hadn't expected him to so righteously sacrifice his own kin and push them straight into the fire.

Y-Your Highness!!?

What are you doing!?

I protest! We protest ahhhh—

And the two nuns, intimidated by his presence, became somewhat hesitant.

This matter itself could be big or small, but even the harshest treatment wouldn't warrant sending them all to the Tribunal — that would be an outright malicious targeting.

That would be an extremely serious provocation.

"Uh, the Tribunal?"

"This... probably isn't necessary either."

The two nuns exchanged a glance, then looked at the two expressionless cardinals behind Herbert, as if understanding something, and shook their heads at him: "No, there's really no need."

"However, please make sure to discipline them properly and not let similar incidents happen again. If there is a next time, we will strictly enforce according to the church canon."

Herbert looked at them with a slightly regretful expression, but ultimately did not press further, and nodded: "Since you both say so... then on behalf of the Albert family, I thank you for your understanding."

The two disciplinary nuns rose and returned the courtesy, gave him a slight nod, then turned and left cleanly and crisply.

After the two nuns left, Herbert silently looked at Blake, who was still sprawled on the ground, and said lightly: "Get up. What are you still pretending for?"

Blake rose silently, didn't even brush the dust off himself, and just stood honestly with his head lowered before Herbert.

"Your Highness, I..."

He was well aware that if Herbert hadn't appeared, they would likely have truly been unable to escape disaster today.

"Any leads?"

"I..."

Herbert saw he was about to answer immediately, and cut him off: "Blake, you only get one chance. The first, and the last."

A chance — Herbert would only give once. Whether he could grasp it was Blake's own business.

This time, Blake was silent for quite a while before lowering his head and speaking in a low voice: "... Jamie, who was in charge of loading and unloading cargo, used to be a city guard in Wang Cheng. He only became a guard of the Albert family after injuring his right hand."

"Good."

Herbert nodded calmly, patted his shoulder, and said evenly: "Go back. Cooperate with the cultivators and have everyone inspected. Beyond that... do nothing."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Thanks to my empty-handed self for the tip!

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(End of this chapter)